On September 3, BoWang Pharmaceuticals announced a new strategic collaboration agreement with Novartis to jointly develop multiple cardiovascular products. This latest agreement represents an expansion of the existing partnership between the two companies.
The collaboration involves several cardiovascular siRNA drugs, including:
Option rights for the ex-China rights of two early-stage molecules targeting severe hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG) and mixed dyslipidemia;
Priority negotiation rights for BW-00112 (ANGPTL3), currently in Phase II clinical trials in both the U.S. and China. BoWang Pharmaceuticals will lead subsequent combination therapy clinical trials;
Ex-China rights for another preclinical siRNA drug, along with a reciprocal option to share profit and loss (P&L) in the U.S. and China. This product is expected to enter Phase I clinical trials in 2026.
Under the terms of the agreement, BoWang Pharmaceuticals will receive a 160 million up front payment,with potential milestone and option payments,aswellas tieredroyaltieson commercialsales.The totalpotentialmilestone value could reach up to 5.2 billion. Additionally, Novartis has expressed preliminary interest in participating in BoWang's next round of equity financing.
Cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of death and disease burden globally. In 2021, 20.5 million people died from cardiovascular diseases, accounting for nearly one-third of all global deaths.
In recent years, the advantages of siRNA therapeutics in the cardiovascular field have been increasingly validated. With their unique efficacy profiles and delivery mechanisms, siRNA therapies hold promise to improve treatment outcomes and patient compliance.
BoWang Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of small nucleic acid-based therapeutics. It possesses an industry-leading siRNA technology platform, with a pipeline primarily targeting cardiometabolic diseases, viral infections, and rare diseases.
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Drug Name
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Drug Category
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Drug Type
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Target
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Indication
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Research & Development Unit
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Global Phase
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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BW-20507
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Chemical Drugs; Nucleotide Drugs; siRNA
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Innovative Drug
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ASGPR; HBsAg
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In clinical research: (Phase II) Chronic Hepatitis B
(In clinical research) Hepatitis B virus infection |
Original Unit: ARGO Biopharma Australia Pty Ltd
Cooperating Unit: Shanghai Bozhang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. |
Phase II Clinical Trial (04/21/2025)
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BW-01
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Biological Products; siRNA
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Innovative Drug
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-
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In clinical research: (Phase II) Hypertriglyceridemia
(In clinical research) Cardiovascular diseases |
Original Unit: Shanghai Bozhang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
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Phase II Clinical Trial (04/29/2024)
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Undisclosed, Anti-PKD, Hereditary Angiopathy Drug
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Unknown
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Innovative Drug
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-
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In clinical research: (Phase II) Hereditary Angiopathy
(In clinical research) Hereditary Angiopathy |
Original Unit: Shanghai Bozhang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
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Phase II Clinical Trial
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BW-40202
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Chemical Drugs
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Innovative Drug
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CFB
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In clinical research: (Phase I) IgA Nephropathy, Renal Diseases
(In clinical research) Complement-Related Kidney Diseases |
Original Unit: Shanghai Bozhang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
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Phase I Clinical Trial (03/10/2025)
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BW-03
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Biological Products; siRNA
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Innovative Drug
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-
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In clinical research: (Phase I) Chronic Hepatitis B
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Original Unit: Shanghai Bozhang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
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Phase I Clinical Trial (07/01/2024)
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BW-05
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Biological Products; siRNA
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Innovative Drug
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-
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In clinical research: (Phase I) Cardiovascular diseases
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Original Unit: Shanghai Bozhang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; Novartis
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Phase I Clinical Trial
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BW-02
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Biological Products; siRNA
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Innovative Drug
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-
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In clinical research: (Phase I) Cardiovascular diseases
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Original Unit: Shanghai Bozhang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Cooperating Unit: Novartis |
Phase I Clinical Trial
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BoWang Pharmaceuticals Product Pipeline
Source: PharmaIntelligence Data
Source: PharmaIntelligence Data
This is not the first collaboration between the two companies. Back in January 2024, BoWang entered into two exclusive licensing and collaboration agreements with Novartis. Under that deal, Novartis obtained the ex-Greater China rights to a cardiovascular project in Phase 1/2a, the global rights to another cardiovascular project in Phase I, and option rights for up to two additional cardiovascular programs. In return, BoWang received a 185millionupfrontpayment∗∗,witha∗∗totalpotentialdealvalueofupto4.165 billion.
Novartis' decision to invest heavily in BoWang once again underscores its strong confidence in the company's siRNA drug development platform. The entry of such a pharmaceutical giant is expected to accelerate the application of siRNA therapies in the cardiovascular space, bringing new hope to many more patients.
Reference: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/sDnz5bVmiRjindmaCQ4esA
